If you believe in kindness you’ll be free.

01 . 11 . 12

First, we closed on the sale of our first home yesterday.

Second, I spent the last 24 hours doing something I hadn’t expected to be doing.

See, my domain was up for renewal and I have it set up to automatically renew but my credit card on file had expired. I received an email notice to update my info in the midst of selling and buying a house. I called and couldn’t remember my pin so I couldn’t pay. Weeks later, yesterday, I phoned Caleb at Go Daddy who kindly helped me on the phone for hours, found my pin and then told me my domain was inaccessible to everyone until the next morning when it would probably go up for auction.

I was bummed and frustrated but also thought who would want my domain?! Little did I know. I have since learned all about domain squatters. My site was purchased before I could say dig. Or any other single syllable words that come to mind…

Now. Early this morning, after having a little (or big) but that’s so unfair! fit I took a big breath in my small apartment and made myself pay attention. Because, whether I wanted it to be or not, this is now part of my path. So, what next? I opened myself up, really wanting to settle into it. That moment, Margot started singing a piece of a song, on repeat, that she heard at a Cinderella play last month. At first the high pitch and repetition was irritating. Then I realized what she was singing.

If you believe in kindness you’ll be free!

If you believe in kindness you’ll be free!

If you believe in kindness you’ll be free!

If you believe in kindness you’ll be free!

I got the info of the person who bought it. He lives in Illinois. I emailed him. I phoned him. He answered. Just a dude who was all hello? like I was calling to ask him out for a beer.

Me: Um, hi. My name is Nici. Did you buy my domain this morning?Squatter: What?!Me: I have a website and I think you bought my url? I am just really confus…Squatter: I can’t talk to you right now! I don’t know anything.Me: Well, I really don’t want to let you off the phone just yet. I would like…Squatter: I don’t know anything! You need to send an email. I don’t even know what you are talking about.Me: I have a general question.Squatter: I don’t…Me: Please, give me just one moment. I am so bummed about this and really need to figure it out. Please help me. Do you buy up domains that accidentally expire and try to sell them back for lots of money? Because, I can tell you right now I am not a contender. Do you…Squatter: Nothing like that. Send an email and someone will be in touch in two hours.Me: What is your name please?Squatter: {very long pause} Chris.

And then he hung up on me.

I did get an email from them and they said “You can just send us your ABSOLUTE BEST AND HIGHEST OFFER in this email and then we will either accept it or reject it.”

I wrote back. I am proud of my email. It was kind and fair. And then I let it go. No more power or energy going to Chris. I might get my domain back, I might not. If I don’t get it back, it will be an opportunity for something else. I don’t know what yet and, yes, it is very disheartening and upsetting, but I do trust it will lead me somewhere else or into something else that is better.

In the meantime! Will you help me?

I have a whole lot of readers who don’t know the new url and I don’t have any way to direct them here. Dig this chick’s new url: www.digthischick.net. To make my new address pop up in search engines instead of the old, I need to get my traffic back. Google ‘dig this chick’ and only click on the new url, not the old. You may have to go to the second page but it is already working as my old site is no longer number one. Additionally, you can click through a link on facebook. You don’t have to be on facebook to see my wall. Or etsy. Or instagram (@nicirae). If you see the old url somewhere, will you let me know? Also, change your bookmarks, blog roll links etc. And, help spread the word if you have pals who read dig. Thank you.

I will be click happy for your new page. I am so sorry you had to go through this. I’m sure in a year this will just be a blip. If people are half as connected to you as I am, they will find you. Promise.

Love the pic of you and Andy in the house. So bittersweet! Kind of interesting that the url thing came on final moving day…maybe a sign? Hugs.

Super bummer, Nici I know several of my friends read Dig, I’ve redirected them on Facebook. I am a web developer and I cannot recommend BlueHost (over GoDaddy) highly enough. Great pic of you and Andy. That’s a big moment there! I think it is martini-thirty. Cheers to rolling with it!

I’m so bummed for you. I had no clue there were crappy people out there who did this. Anyway, maybe a warning to others out there when you click on your big Dig logo at the top it takes you back to the other address and also if you click any of the “you might also like” links under each post.

The new url is coming up as the second link now. Its okay! Everyone will find you. On the plus side, I think dropping the ‘mt’ is a positive thing, I couldn’t tell you how many times I have forgotton those two little letters when typing your url. Breathe!

I am new to your blog but have already love your blog! perhaps because you live in Missoula….Congrats on your new home!!! I reside in Bozeman with my hubby and 2 little girls and we are planning to move back to Missoula this summer…………..very excited. Using your new URL and its popping up fine.

I am new to your blog but have already love your blog! perhaps because you live in Missoula….Congrats on your new home!!! I reside in Bozeman with my hubby and 2 little girls and we are planning to move back to Missoula this summer…………..very excited. Using your new URL and its popping up fine.

I am new to your blog but have already love your blog! perhaps because you live in Missoula….Congrats on your new home!!! I reside in Bozeman with my hubby and 2 little girls and we are planning to move back to Missoula this summer…………..very excited. Using your new URL and its popping up fine.

I am new to your blog but have already love your blog! perhaps because you live in Missoula….Congrats on your new home!!! I reside in Bozeman with my hubby and 2 little girls and we are planning to move back to Missoula this summer…………..very excited. Using your new URL and its popping up fine.

I am new to your blog but have already love your blog! perhaps because you live in Missoula….Congrats on your new home!!! I reside in Bozeman with my hubby and 2 little girls and we are planning to move back to Missoula this summer…………..very excited. Using your new URL and its popping up fine.

Don’t buy it back from the pirates. New year, new digs, new url! It only took me a second or two to google dig this chick and find you. BTW I bought a cowl on Etsy for a Christmas present based on your recommendation and my daughter loves it.

No wonder! I kept clicking on your blog the other day, trying to look up a recipe. But today, you showed up in my google reader. I’ve changed my bookmarks and am clicking away. Dude, we’re ALL *clicking* so suck it, Chris.

Thank you for sharing this. I am sorry this had to happen to you, but if it helps prevent another person from having the same thing done, maybe that’s a tiny consolation for you. I checked my web host, etc. and I’m good, so thank you again! (Karma, Chris. It will bite you in the butt sooner or later!)

what an amazing attitude you have! i need to be more ‘chill’ about stuff! i just bought my own domain about 2 weeks ago and had no idea about domain squatters! this ‘crhis’ is a very shady character. & margot has impeccable timing! xx

your new url popped up on my google reader automatically and I googled and clicked the new url and then I did the same from my husband’s laptop and I’ll do it from my work computer tomorrow as well. Chin up. : )

You still came up on the second page when I did it just now, but I googled from a few different browsers and clicked through facebook. I’m sure you know all about SEO, but be sure that right now you’re including “dig this chick” in all your hidden text/ structural elements, like your pics and links.

I’m clicking away! How sad and frustrating to have to deal with this maddening loss during such a transitional time, but what you have here in this space (the magic your self-expression creates) transcends any URL address.~Lucy

Walks in the field make everything better. I admire your resolve and patience. Way to make lemonade martinis out of lemons! Bummer about the url. Way to go girl with the turning it around. I adore the photo of you and Andy in the empty house. Looks like you are on to greener pastures, or in the big ole West’s case — browner, tan, and whiter (for winter). I am looking forward to seeing you put your plot of land to together. Peace & Poetry,memomuse

I am going to click, click, click and spread the news for you. Already updated your address. What a clusterfuck. I commend you for not losing it. I was thinking that you could have gotten your mommy bear bent out of shape, seeing that the blog is more of a child than just a means of communication.

I’m sorry that happened, impressed with your coping skills, and happy to google you as often as I think about it. I want to hear more about your move!! so you have an apartment but you’ll have a bigger garden? sounds interesting!

DO NOT click click click. If any of the sponsors are paying per click, they definitely won’t appreciate it. And even if they aren’t, it totally throws them into confusion if they suddenly see lots of traffic — especially if that traffic does hang around and actually do anything. Plus, it affects the search engines not at all. There’s zero benefit to clicking on anything.

Nici, what this guy did is called “buying domains on the drop.” Lots of people do it and most times it happens without incident since the process of losing a domain takes a *long* time of inactivity by the original owner. Cases like this where a domain that the owner still wants actually makes it to the process of being available on the drop are very rare.

I talked to a good friend of mine who buys domains on the drop (and at auction) all the time. His advice was this: “I suggest she call GoDaddy and give them the riot act. I’ve known GoDaddy to (several times) give names back after they were sold at auction.” Beyond that, if you still want to play nice (which I would), all you can do is hope that Chris gives it back.

If you have any age and history built up in the old domain at all, though, I would work hard to get it back — unless you really are cool with just starting from scratch from a links and search engine perspective.

I always click to you through Google reader but I am writing a post right now on how your “hump day nuggets” series has inspired me and how I am making it into my own thing and Googled you to link to your blog and the series, and clicked on the new link and found out about this. I will happily spread the news far and wide!

You came up in my Google Reader too. I’m so glad I read this. My domain is set to expire soon, and I’ve been getting the GoDaddy notices. I wasn’t too worried…I don’t have that many readers, but I would be heartbroken if someone snatched up my name. I hope you get it back! Chris sucks!

I want to THANK YOU for this post! Because of it I checked, and one of my web addresses had expired as well. Fortunately, it was just a couple of days ago and I was able to renew it. But I may not have checked as the renewal email goes to an account I don’t often check. They were also using a credit card that had an old expiration date. Whew! So sorry for the trouble that you have had with this. Ridiculous that there are those who do this! Margaret

Phew! So relieved to have found you, was pretty bummed when the godaddy site popped up! So I Googled Dig this Chick, you came up on FB so I scrolled through your page and found your new url. After reading your post I googled you again and the new url came up second on the list!!

I read your blog (found it through Kelle’s) and realised something was up with the url. Just a quick note to say I found you (yay!) and Google UK now lists .net as the first Dig this Chick! Wishing you and your family lots of happiness in your new home!

I’m relieved that you didn’t just pull up roots at the last minute! I was worried about that after not being able to access the blog for a few days. Thanks for re-directing me here. I’m off to google away!I’m sorry it happened, but I have a feeling it will all workout just fine, if the rest of your readers enjoy you as much as I do people will keep searching until they find you! Hope you guys are getting settled in the new home.

Glad to find you again through google–I figured it was something to do with the craziness that surrounds a (physical) move, but didn’t consider that somebody might come along and snatch up the old url away so fast! Now that the new site is a top google hit, I think most people should be able to find you pretty quickly again! Good luck!

Glad to find you again through google–I figured it was something to do with the craziness that surrounds a (physical) move, but didn’t consider that somebody might come along and snatch up the old url away so fast! Now that the new site is a top google hit, I think most people should be able to find you pretty quickly again! Good luck!

oh, bummer about your site. your followers will find you, don’t worry. Good luck with the new living arrangements. We recently relocated and we had to rent an apartment while our house sold. It was insane how easily it was to live with less than half of what we owned at the apartment during the week. When we headed to the house on the weekends we only had to bring perishable foods. crazy!

I lost my website to a personal photography page I’d been advertising last year – it sucked! Stupid squatters. Oh well, bigger problems lurk and you still showed in my reader, too! Good luck and congrats.

can i just say i’ve been through your whole blog. i confess i didn’t read much but just loved seeing the developments of your photos bc i’m a visual person and i love photography. people say i’m a “jane of all trades” but one thing that i’m not good at is gardening! i have 4 cacti in my apt, and i think one is standing at death’s door anyhow, i love how you garden and can foods…that’s an awesome skill to have! thanks for sharing!

So glad you’re not gone!!! I was worried, until googling you showed up the new URL. Don’t worry, all will be well. This made me realize how devastated I would be if my favourite bloggers just up and disappeared though. Man, that would be rough!

The photo of the two of you in your first house is beautiful. Poignant, moving, timeless, a clear milestone. I love it. I can’t wait to someday stand in a house like that and take my “first house ever” picture.